Otmar Szafnauer
Encyclopedia
Otmar Szafnauer is the incoming Chief Operating Officer of Force India
F1 team for 2010 Formula One season
.
He was formerly the Vice President of Honda Racing Developments and a member of the Management Board of the Honda F1
team.
He was born in Romania, but moved to Detroit when he was seven years old.
He received a Masters Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Detroit, and joined the Ford Motor Company
in 1986. While working for Ford he attended the Jim Russell Racing Driver School and started racing in Formula Ford
in 1991. In 1993 he was appointed Programmes Manager for Ford in the U.S.
In this role, he met Adrian Reynard
who asked him to become Operations Director at British American Racing
in Formula One
in 1998. After three years at BAR, he was recruited by Bobby Rahal
in 2001 to be Chief Operating Officer at Jaguar Racing
, but a week before he was supposed to start Rahal was fired and Szafnauer was not needed any more. After several months of unemployment he was hired by Honda, who had made a comeback to Formula 1, to help its engineers.
After leaving Honda in 2008, he founded Soft Pauer, which released the official Formula One Timing and Track Positioning Application
on the iPhone in June 2009, before joining Force India on November 2, 2009.
Force India
Sahara Force India Formula One Team, the trading name of Force India Formula One Team Limited, is a Formula One racing team based in Silverstone, United Kingdom which currently holds an Indian licence. The team was formed in October 2007 when a consortium led by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and...
F1 team for 2010 Formula One season
2010 Formula One season
The 2010 Formula One season was the 61st Formula One season of World Championship motor racing competition. Red Bull Racing won its maiden Constructors' Championship with a one-two finish in Brazil, while Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers' Championship after winning the final race...
.
He was formerly the Vice President of Honda Racing Developments and a member of the Management Board of the Honda F1
Honda F1
Honda Racing F1 Team was a Formula One team run by Japanese car manufacturer Honda, from 1964 to 1968 and from 2006 to 2008. Honda's involvement in F1 began with the 1964 season; their withdrawal in 1968 was precipitated by the death of Honda driver Jo Schlesser during the 1968 French Grand Prix. ...
team.
He was born in Romania, but moved to Detroit when he was seven years old.
He received a Masters Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Detroit, and joined the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in 1986. While working for Ford he attended the Jim Russell Racing Driver School and started racing in Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
in 1991. In 1993 he was appointed Programmes Manager for Ford in the U.S.
In this role, he met Adrian Reynard
Adrian Reynard
Adrian Reynard was the founder of Reynard Motorsport, which was a successful racing car manufacturer before it went bankrupt in 2002....
who asked him to become Operations Director at British American Racing
British American Racing
British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005. BAR began by acquiring Tyrrell, and used Supertec engines for their first year...
in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
in 1998. After three years at BAR, he was recruited by Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
in 2001 to be Chief Operating Officer at Jaguar Racing
Jaguar Racing
Jaguar Racing was a Formula One team that competed in the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2000 to 2004. It was formed from the purchase by Ford of Jackie Stewart's Stewart Grand Prix Formula One team in June 1999. Ford renamed the team Jaguar Racing as part of its global marketing...
, but a week before he was supposed to start Rahal was fired and Szafnauer was not needed any more. After several months of unemployment he was hired by Honda, who had made a comeback to Formula 1, to help its engineers.
After leaving Honda in 2008, he founded Soft Pauer, which released the official Formula One Timing and Track Positioning Application
Formula One Timing and Track Positioning Application
The Formula One Timing and Track Positioning Application is an application for the iPhone OS developed by Soft Pauer Ltd and officially endorsed by the commercial rights holders of Formula One, Formula One Management...
on the iPhone in June 2009, before joining Force India on November 2, 2009.